stats__nodecount

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why stats__nodecount needs a policy

This tool merely retrieves and returns a count statistic from Etherscan's blockchain data APIs. It has no side effects, does not execute code or transactions, does not modify data, and does not involve financial operations. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an agent calling this tool repeatedly would at worst generate harmless query volume.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'stats__nodecount' and description 'Returns the total number of discoverable Ethereum nodes' indicate a read-only query operation that retrieves statistical data about the Ethereum network without modifying, executing, or deleting anything.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access stats__nodecount gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control stats__nodecount

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Etherscan MCP, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for stats__nodecount:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "stats__nodecount": {}
  }
}

stats__nodecount is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register Etherscan MCP — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Etherscan MCP tools

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about stats__nodecount

What does the stats__nodecount tool do? +

Returns the total number of discoverable Ethereum nodes. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Etherscan MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on stats__nodecount? +

Register the Etherscan MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for stats__nodecount: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Etherscan MCP. Nothing to install.

What risk level is stats__nodecount? +

stats__nodecount is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit stats__nodecount? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the stats__nodecount rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block stats__nodecount completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for stats__nodecount. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides stats__nodecount? +

stats__nodecount is provided by the Etherscan MCP server (xiaok/etherscan-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Etherscan MCP tool call.

Start from Etherscan MCP, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →